Daily Thought for Monday 14th April 2025
“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
John 12.8 (NRSV)
Remembering hospitality
Jock Stein
Whenever Henry VIII was short of cash, he would melt down some silver pillaged from the Medieval Church, and cast some more silver coin. The Church in its turn had hoarded vast wealth which could have been used in better ways, but they had used Bible passages like this to justify keeping it in house, believing that they were honouring Jesus in so doing.
Today we still struggle with our financial priorities, as our churches become poorer and the gap between rich and poor in Western society grows. I recommend The Economics of Good and Evil, by Tomas Sedlacek, to understand the bigger issues.
At this point, the vulnerability of groups small and large is exposed by John’s brief comment that they kept a common purse, from which their treasurer Judas stole. Did Jesus know about that? Probably! Yet there is no record of any showdown, like Peter’s challenge to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. A greater showdown was still to come.
The Bible leaves us free to choose the economic model we wish to follow. Verse 8, like much of Scripture, has a double-edged challenge: to help the poor (who are always there) but not to let good works distract us from a passion for Christ himself. Compare the balance of Galatians 6.10: do good to all, but especially those of the household of faith.
However, here we are on the Monday of Holy Week, six days before Passover in Gospel time, the day after Passover in our time. A family, deeply grateful to Jesus, gives a dinner for him (and it seems, his disciples) – a family whose friendship with Jesus is still known two millennia later. So today we remember the devotion of Mary, the cooking of Martha (who is not rebuked for being busy), and the plots against Lazarus and Jesus. May our homes be as open to Jesus as this one in Bethany, and may our hearts be as open to his friendship.
Shall we pray?:
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your openness to share yourself with others. May we learn from your example of love and faithfulness in a world of hatred and exclusion. Amen.
Jock Stein is a retired minister, ordained in Kenya – a poet, piper, preacher and publisher who lives with his wife Margaret in Haddington, where they are members of St Mary’s Parish Church.